Jose Cuervo Pairing Event to Give Students Competition Experience

(December 27, 2011) Select culinary students from The International Culinary School at The Art Institute of California—Sunnyvale will prepare to compete for a mark of distinction and scholarship prizes during a Jose Cuervo led food pairing competition on April 13, 2012 in San Francisco.

At a recent competition kick-off at The Art Institute of California—Sunnyvale, potential participants learned about the challenge and the prizes. Jose Cuervo products are to serve as the inspiration for a savory bite that will pair well with tequila for a chance to win a $1500.00 first place prize, a $1000.00 second place prize and a $500.00 third place prize. There will also be an audience popular vote for a $500.00 prize.

Academic Director Lindsey Morgan, who oversees the culinary program at the Sunnyvale campus and has spearheaded the pairing event, noted that the competition allows for students to work together as a team. “They’ll have to decide on preparation techniques and present their dish to a panel of judges,” said Morgan. “It’ll be great experience to explain in culinary terms what they’ve produced and articulate the flavors they were working to achieve, all while maintaining a professional demeanor and complying with the rules of the competition.”

The Art Institutes students must first apply and qualify to compete in the Jose Cuervo event before they are given a flavor of tequila, a budget of $300.00, access to the school’s culinary labs during set hours, and are paired with a faculty member mentor for the event. The competition will also include participants from The Art Institute of California—Sacramento.

The Art Institute of California—Sunnyvale is one of The Art Institutes (www.artinstitutes.edu), a system of more than 45 educational institutions located throughout North America. The Art Institutes schools provide an important source for design, media arts, fashion and culinary arts professionals. Several institutions included in The Art Institutes system are campuses of South University. See aiprograms.info for program duration, tuition, fees, and other costs, median debt, federal salary data, alumni success, and other important info.